#is this shark man a cat too? local biologists are confused

[dearlybeelovedreadingroom]

a piece for @starblazer124, who sent me a prompt: “I was wondering how Sidon would react to his autistic s/o stimming in front of them when they're happy. I wiggle and flap around...”

This will probably be short, but I hope you (and everyone who feels it applies to them, or needs it) enjoy it!

You ran down the path from the reservoir, excited near to bursting and rehearsing how you were going to say why exactly it was that you were so excited. You’d found something cool at the edge of the water at the reservoir, and you were rushing back to find Sidon to tell him all about it. 

What luck, you had found him, and you were gearing up to tell the story-- “I was just sitting there,” you said, “kicking my feet in the water because I like how it feels, and that was when I saw it, a beautiful fish. It was bright orange, Sidon, I wish you could have seen it.”

“I wish I could have, too,” he said, smiling. “It seems to have gotten you quite excited.”

That was when you looked down at your hands, flapping at the end of your arms like flags in a stiff breeze. You looked at them, crestfallen, and slowly, you stopped, putting your hands down at your sides to fiddle with a string on your clothes. “...yeah. I’m sorry.”

Sidon took your hands in his then, bringing them to about your chin level (not even chest-height for him!) and looked deep into your eyes, with a soft yet serious gaze. He almost looked... upset. “Dearest, you need never apologize for the little habits you have that signal your utmost excitement with the things you experience in the Domain.” He squeezed your hands. “I find it endearing, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of or sorry for.”

You nodded, looking away. “All right.”

He smiled again. “Would you take me to the spot where you saw that fish? I want to see if I can find it, if it’s still there.”

You grinned. “Sure!”

You were back at the reservoir, but now you were seated next to Sidon, who was laying on his stomach on the dock, one hand in the water, drawing little circles you could see by the ripple pattern that followed his hand, and eyes fixed on the water.  Every so often, something tapped your arm. Assuming it was bugs known to hang out near water,  you brushed your arm and paid it very little mind, until whatever it was rubbed against you enough to make you look at it-- it wasn’t a bug. Sidon’s caudal fin was twitching as he watched the water, and it was moving so much, it was hitting your arm. 

Gently, you reached out and steadied it on his back, until he turned to look at you. 

He blushed. “See, I must have been excited myself. We’re much more alike than you think, my love.”